Competing in a synthetic dressage saddle.

Piaffey

Piaffey

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Does anyone have a synthetic dressage saddle they compete in or would you not go down that road?

I ask as i have to part with my gorgeous leather KN and am thinking about alternatives.

I have never been a synthetic fan before and have never ridden in one but recently bought my daughters pony a wintec gp.

Are they any good or would you steer clear? Any makes to avoid?

One thing that I do like is the lightness of them.

Failing that. Can anyone suggest a good (resonably priced leather saddle).
 
Both my saddles are synthetics (Thorowgood). They came with the pony, so I wasn't arguing, and they fit both him and me. I have to say that I like the lightness and the easy-maintenance aspect, and that many makes are adjustable in different ways. Now that the dressage saddle has died (it was very very old; not sure what happened to it, but the tree seems to be damaged), I would definitely consider getting another synthetic one.
 
Have to admit that cheap leather saddles are VERY hard to come by!

I have a thorowgood dressage saddle for my horse which I bought this year and that is cumfy and reasonable priced. I have no problems competing in it, nobody has ever said anything to me about it being synthetic, plus, the leather look ones literally look just like leather and thorowgood have just brought out a half leather half leather look dressage saddle which is a little more expensive but it looks very leather!
 
I have competed (and schooled) in the Wintec Isabell for the last 5 years. Horse loves it fits super (I have flocked version) and I like its deep seat, have mine fitted with the extended blocks. Had saddler check over the fit this year and still fits him fine, saddler also said its one of his most popular saddles. I have had no issues with mine but then my horse is a fairly standard shape so this may be why. I also love the fact that I only need to give it a quick hoover over before a comp!!
 
I would have loved a Wintec Isabell Werth Dressage saddle as I find they put you in such a nice position, but they just don't fit Mally. So I have an old Albion dressage saddle which cost me £200 off eBay, which I really love and is probably as cheap if not cheaper that the Wintec Isabell!
 
I have a Tekna saddle and it is really fab- comfy for me and the horse (done really well in pliance testing), looks very like leather, easy to clean, etc.

I have always been anti-synthetic until I tried the Tekna- now I am thinking of getting the jumping version as well!
 
Hello stranger!

The Isabell Werth is quite a nice saddle, but avoid the Cair (sp) version, go flocked if you go down that route. But they don't fit everything by any stretch of the imagination.

The ideal Jessica are quite nice and not too expensive these days. could you get someone like unicorn out with a ton of second hand and see what they have?

Good luck finding something
 
I competed to advanced medium in an old wintec pro dressage. I had it wool flocked. I have to say, my seat was probably at its very best in that saddle as it had no support at all lol! I love my deep seated, big blocked ideal sussanah, but it definitely spoils me. If the wintec fits your horse, nothing wrong with it!!!
 
I quite like some synthetics - my favourites have been the suede type Wintecs though (Isabelles & the old Wintec Pro dressage?) although I would be cautious and choose flocked saddles over CAIR, so that you have more ability to alter the fit :) Beware different tree shapes also, a changeable gullet doesn't solve all problems! Don't be put off Wintecs though :)
 
Thanks everyone. Very helpful.

I really am drawn to the fact that they are so light and also easy to clean!

Perhaps I will have a look on Ebay and ee what I can find.

Never heard of the Tekna so may look into that too. :)
 
hellspells said:
Hello stranger!

The Isabell Werth is quite a nice saddle, but avoid the Cair (sp) version, go flocked if you go down that route. But they don't fit everything by any stretch of the imagination.

The ideal Jessica are quite nice and not too expensive these days. could you get someone like unicorn out with a ton of second hand and see what they have?

Good luck finding something
Click to expand...

Well hello you!

I did think about unicorn and also Henry Bowers, do you remember when we went there before Devon County? He had a shed load of saddles.
 
I have been riding my friends horse and he has a Wintec Pro. I absolutely LOVE it. It's so so comfy and just sits you in the right place. I would definitely look at one
 
My mum chose a new GFS Genesis synthetic dressage saddle. She had an unlimited budget and the saddler brought all sorts to try. She liked an Albion slk but in the end the cheapy synthetic was the best one for them, it is light and my mums horse moved the most freely in it and my mum looked the most secure in it. She prefered it to her ideal Jessica which she sold as she felt insecure in it.
It's a great looking saddle, it's black suede with leather girth straps and adjustable gullet.
I like the modern sythnthetics, I think some of them are really nice :).
 
The synthetics have been around for so long now, they've worked out most of the bugs and they aren't functionally any different than leather saddles so long as they fit you and the horse. A surprising number of people ride to quite a high level in them.

I am less convinced, in my experience, by synthetic jumping saddles. I find they "moulding" of the leather to be a bigger factor and there tends to be a very limited variation in flap size etc. I've never sat in one that made me want to jump big fences in it. That said, none of the synthetics are made big enough in the hip to knee measurement for me so perhaps I can't accurately judge. :) And a friend of mine went to the Pan Am (like the Europeans) 3day in a Wintec so it must have done the job for her.

Millitiger, I'm intrigued by your Tekna. What made you choose it?
 
Piaffey said:
Well hello you!

I did think about unicorn and also Henry Bowers, do you remember when we went there before Devon County? He had a shed load of saddles.
Click to expand...

Oh yeah! That place was amazing too and like you say tons of saddles. And it's closer than unicorn, so probably easier. I hope you find something (I persume for the lovely Orange beast - give her a big kiss from me), saddles are the bain of my life.
 
Mine is the new Wintec GP, my old pony had one so it was the first thing I went for with my youngster and I love it! Would never get a leather unless an absolutely beautiful dressage saddle. New horse is coming with leather saddle which I am not looking forward to cleaning and caring for every month!
 
hellspells said:
Oh yeah! That place was amazing too and like you say tons of saddles. And it's closer than unicorn, so probably easier. I hope you find something (I persume for the lovely Orange beast - give her a big kiss from me), saddles are the bain of my life.
Click to expand...

I think I will take my KN over there actually and see what he says. Yes it is for the Orange one! And I will give her a big kiss from you on Friday when I go over.
How are you? Are you competing much? Still riding the spanish boy? I cannot wait to ride again I miss it so much. :(
 
Thanks so much everyone. The wintec Pro looks like a good bet then which, funnily enough I was looking at earlier.

I have had a look at the Tenka saddle and it looks rather nice actually. I may follow that up too.

And to whoever, mentioned hoovering their saddle before a comp....I have so much to learn! LOL Will try that with daughters saddle.
 
TarrSteps said:
Millitiger, I'm intrigued by your Tekna. What made you choose it?
Click to expand...

Millie outgrew her lovely Passier saddle, which was rather ancient so I had a small budget to play with.

After lots and lots of research (google is my friend!) I decided the Tekna was worth a look.
The local saddlery had them in stock and they looked great on the rack so I took the plunge and bought one (from eBay, brand new for half the RRP).

Millie goes really, really well in it, my only niggle is that the seat sizes are generous and I think I could have got away with a 17".

My (leather) jumping saddle has gone off the be altered and re-flocked and since it has been away (about 4 weeks) I have noticed Millie has muscled up quite a bit with the Tekna.

When I go to collect her jumping saddle, I will be trying the Tekna jumping model so can report back if you like?
I am also extremely long from hip to knee so fit best in saddles like Pessoas and Passiers which have minimal blocks.
 
Wintec do the contourbloc dressage saddle now, which i really like the look of. I would definitely go down the flocked and not cair route though.

http://www.4dobbin.com/p-Pro-Dressage-Flocked-with-Contourbloc-Wintec.html

Ive seen them going for around £500 mark on ebay new. I really want one but unfortunately i dont think they will fit either of my cobby shaped horses! Jupi is in a Wintec pro jump at the mo but thats just for breaking in and it does move a bit on his back.
 
I have a newer Wintec 500 dressage saddle and love it! Really nice deep seat which puts you in a great postion and its easy to refit no need to buy a new saddle everytime. Have also heard great things about the Isabell Werth saddles.
 
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